AFG 3.0 AH Hybrid Exercise Bike The AFG 3.0 AH hybrid exercise bike is ideal for anyone who’s looking for the access and support of a recumbent but who also desires the efficient riding position of an upright bike. Taking the best design features of a recumbent and blending it with a traditional upright model, the 3.0 AH incorporates a number of unique features, most notably a step-through design for easy on-and-off access. In addition, a rider’s body is positioned at a 45-degree angle, which is ergonomically the most ideal position for people with hip or joint issues. The seat is fully adjustable and includes integrated lumbar support. All AFG exercise bikes are made with substantial commercial-style frames that don’t tip or shake like lesser machines.
The 3.0 AH has a heavy-duty, 18-pound flywheel for smooth operation with magnetic brake resistance–the same featured on AFG’s commercial units. Riders can stop pedaling at any point during a workout thanks to AFG’s FreeSPIN technology–allowing the heavy-duty flywheel to spin independent of the pedals–so you can coast safely after you stop pedaling, eliminating the jarring stops that can place undue stress on your joints.
This bike includes 20 programmable resistance levels that make it easy to change workout intensity and 8 preset programs. The large 5-screen display of the computer console keeps you informed at all times. You can also incorporate heart rate training with the contact heart rate monitor integrated into the handlebar.
 |
 |
Specifications:
- Resistance levels: 20
- Flywheel: 18 pounds
- Console feedback: 10×14 red LED dot-matrix, 2 4-digit LEDs, 2 3-digit LEDs
- Programs: Manual, Intervals, Weight Loss, Rolling Hills, Constant Watts, Cadence, Random, Custom
- Heart rate monitoring: Contact
- Maximum user weight: 300 pounds
Manufacturer’s Warranty
Lifetime warranty on the frame and brakes; two years on parts; one year on labor
About AFG
AFG is part of Johnson Health Tech, one of the largest manufacturers of fitness equipment in the world. The company is committed to designing, engineering, and manufacturing superior products for health clubs and homes. AFG’s manufacturing facilities rank among the most sophisticated in the industry, with an intricate mix of robotics and skilled workers that maintain the highest standards of accuracy and quality. Every stage of manufacturing undergoes a testing phase, and 10 percent of AFG’s products go through a rigorous quality inspection that includes completely taking them apart and reassembling them.
Customer Review: First impressions: very good
First, the bad news. Supposedly, "In a few days, the shipper will contact the addressee at the phone number you provided to schedule a convenient delivery time." Nope. If the shipper had bothered to call, I would have advised them to call me when they arrive so I could meet them at the bottom of my driveway, which is right now deep in mud. There is no way the semi and trailer would get up and down without rolling off the side of the hill. But my wife saw the truck coming and I went down to meet the driver, and we transfered the 140+ pound box into my pickup. Once at the house, I opened the box and carried the pieces individually inside.
Assembly was pretty straightforward. I read the other reviews and decided to find out exactly how long it took me. After reading the instructions once and opening the cardboard boxes, it took thirty-six minutes and twelve seconds to complete. Maybe the instructions are better now than they were for the other people. The wiring for the console could have been faster if they had used colored or numbered labels on the wires, but since every cable was unique in number of pins and gender, there is no way to get them wrong.
The bike itself feels nice and solid, and seems to perform as well as a "professional" exercise bike I used some years back. I think the upright position should be a bit better for watching TV or a movie while riding, compared to the traditional position. On the whole, I am satisfied.
Customer Review: Good product, with a few reservations
First, the bike, when put together as designed, works fine and after a couple of months of use, it’s worked as advertised. We’re happy with it.
Second,we agree that 30 min to put it together is fantasy. I’m (the husband) reasonably handy, with a fair amount of experience putting together pretty complicated stuff with and without instructions, and it took me about 2-1/2 or 3 hours to get this constructed. The process was generally good– all of the necessary hardware, including tools, was included and the physical connections were reasonably straight-forward, althought the instructions on the electronic connections were poor (I did manage it alone without having to call the manufacturer but that’s no excuse). You also have to be pretty strong if you want to do this alone. At about 145 lb and strong for my size, it was OK but not easy. Anyone who can’t lift, say, a 100 lb weight and walk it across a decent sized room would likely find it difficult to do alone.
Third, my specific experience on customer experience is good news, bad news. After putting it together, with the various issues noted above, it was more than a little frustrating that the bike didn’t work as advertised. As in, the resistance was Very high even when set at a low level, and the resistance controls did nothing, so it was pretty unworkable.
On the other hand, a call to the manufacturer got a local service person to our house within a week He tore it down and found that a critical part had been wired backwards at the factory. He was able to rework it and we’ve been pleased with the bike since, but from what I understand, it was a pretty basic mistake.
So would we order this bike again? Yes, since we believe the price we paid was good relative to market price for this and competitive equipment and service at the local level was very good-to-excellent. Given the need for repairs on a brand-new item and, relatedly, less-than-stellar quality control, a 5-star rating isn’t appropriate– but greater attention to consistency could change that.
Entries (RSS)